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SPARKS

ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2017

F

luke, represented locally by Comtest,

has Fluke 1732 and 1734 three-phase

energy loggers that are designed to

identify sources of electrical energy waste.

Easy to set up and use, and capture key

measurements – voltage, current, power,

power factor, and other variables like tem-

perature – the 1732/1734 enable users to

understand energy usage and correlate it to

activities. The loggers are also Fluke Con-

nect® compatible. Data can be viewed from

anywhere via the Fluke Connect mobile app,

potentially reducing the number of times a

technician must open a panel while wearing

full protective equipment.

With the Fluke 1732 and 1734, users can:

• Easily discover wasted energy to reduce

energy bills.

• Perform energy studies over a range of

electrical power and energy parameters.

• Perform simple current-only load studies.

• Use the 1734 to perform advanced energy

and load studies with connected data

from Fluke Connect modules.

“Energy use in industrial plants is one of

the most important areas where costs can

be reduced, yet most facility managers are

unaware of how their energy is consumed,”

says Paul de la Port, president, Fluke Indus-

trial Group. “The Fluke 1732 and 1734 energy

loggers deliver a complete picture that iden-

tifies opportunities for savings and provides

actionable data to reduce energy costs to

improve the bottom line.”

The Fluke energy loggers:

• Measure all three phase conductors: with

included three flexible current probes.

• Provide comprehensive logging: more

than 20 separate logging sessions can

be stored on the instruments and all

measured values are automatically logged

to retain measurement trends.

• Can be powered by the measurement

circuit: eliminating the need to find a power

outlet and run power cord extensions.

• Can be set up completely in the field

through the front panel with no need to

return to the workshop for download and

setup or to take a computer to the electrical

panel as data can be downloaded directly

to USB memory stick or via local Wi-Fi.

The quick, guided, graphical setup ensures

that the right data is captured every time,

and the intelligent verification function

indicates correct connections have been

made, reducing user uncertainty.

The 1732 and 1734 also include the energy

analyse plus application software that

delivers more advanced analysis capabilities

to better correlate data and make better

decisions. The loggers are rated 600 V CAT

IV/1000 V CAT III for safe use at the service

entrance, and downstream.

Enquiries: +27 (0)10 595 1821

17

ENERGY

EFFICIENCY

FLUKE ELECTRICAL LOGGERS

REDUCE FACILITIES’

ENERGY COSTS

ENERGY MONITORING,

OPTIMISATION AND MANAGEMENT VALUE-ADD

The Fluke 1732 and 1734 three-phase energy

loggers are designed to more easily identify

sources of electrical energy waste.

A

s a source of energy, liquid petroleum gas

(LPG) is hard to beat. Easy to use, efficient,

cost-competitive and environmentally-friend-

ly – its properties play an active role in contributing

towards a gas-powered economy.

From an LPG supplier perspective, the business is

evolving in a dynamic and exciting manner. “In the

past, it was enough to ensure timeous and efficient

supply of LPG to customers in the domestic, commer-

cial and industrial sectors,” says Fred Royer, managing

director of Easigas.

“However, business trends and requirements have

evolved. If you are selling LPG energy, it is now es-

sential to have a thorough understanding of custom-

ers’ requirements, and also how the energy you supply

them will be utilised, or the application thereof. This

is especially important in economically demanding

times where energy – particularly if its usage is not

correctly optimised and managed – can be one of the

greatest industrial or manufacturing input costs,” says

Royer.

In line with the above trends, Easigas’s commercial

technical manager, Dave De Wit – who has more than

three decades’ experience and understanding of gas-

fired plant and equipment – will be leading an inno-

vative value-adding initiative to Easigas’s customers

in the commercial and industrial sectors. In terms of

specifics, this additional service to customers is a form

of diversification.

While the company will remain a primary LPG sup-

plier, it is diversifying into energy optimisation and

management via its expanded service and value-add

proposition.

“This will take the form of a multi-faceted energy

monitoring and management service offering; which

will also offer assistance to our commercial and in-

dustrial customers who need to be aligned with exist-

ing gas-related legislation,” De Wit explains.

Easigas’s new service will assist in the optimisation

of customers’ combustion systems and burner man-

agement. When the time comes to alter plant or in-

stall new gas systems, Easigas will offer its customers

professional advice on the gas equipment selection

and installation thereof.

A component of the energy monitoring and man-

agement service would be assisting companies with

statutory compliance.

“The enforcement of statutory compliance dead-

lines, as defined in the Pressure Equipment Regula-

tions (PER), is to be revised owing to the prohibitive

costs of upgrades required to ensure compliance,”

says De Wit.

The Department of Labour will require that com-

panies draw up a risk profile, and then schedule

measures to be taken to ensure compliance in a se-

ries of manageable and affordable steps.

Regarding the energy monitoring component of

the service – and the need for customers to be le-

gally compliant – Easigas could offer a scheduled

monitoring capability, regardless of whether or not it

is linked to a statutory requirement. “If for example,

a burner nozzle or register should become inefficient

(and ‘gas wasting’), by scheduled monitoring, we will

detect this condition early and advise the customer

accordingly,” says De Wit.

Easigas will also be able to assist customers with

burner equipment selection, optimisation, manage-

ment and compliance. “With our continuous on-site

monitoring frequency, customers would also comply

more easily with emissions legislation,” he says.

Should a customer consider installing or altering

its combustion systems, Easigas will be able to sup-

ply projected gas consumption metrics; as well as

burner installation and management advice.

“We would consult on best-fit burner practice and

extend this into burner system installation and project

management if required. Considering the current cost

of consulting engineering, the cost-savings our ser-

vice will offer could be substantial,” De Wit points out.

A further incentive for Easigas’s commercial and

industrial customers to grasp this opportunity lies in

South Africa’s changing environmental legislation,

which will increasingly dictate that industries engage

in environmentally-responsible energy utilisation.

He adds that similar services could in future

be extended to Easigas’s

substantial domestic LPG

market.

“With this innovation, Easi-

gas is at the forefront of the

LPG supply sector: not only

in responding to its commer-

cial and industrial custom-

ers’ requirements for greater

flexibility and accessibility

to energy monitoring, opti-

misation and management;

but also to the imperatives

of the Industry 4.0 trend of

increasingly automated and

integrated manufacturing.

Advanced telemetry sys-

tems that will be used in the

‘smart’ factory of tomorrow

are also compatible with

the LPG industry. Their appli-

cations range from LPG tank

level monitoring, automatic

meter readings and burner

fuel consumption metering,

to monitoring combustion

efficiency. “With these sys-

tems in place, there is added

potential for greater produc-

tivity horizons,” says De Wit.

“The drive of the Industry

4.0 global initiative is to-

wards increased efficiency and productivity. With our

energy monitoring and management value-added

service offering, we are able to assist our custom-

ers in improving their productivity, profitability and

sustainability through optimal energy usage,” he

concludes.

T

he ECO Solar light

is designed in South

Africa and distributed

by AutObarn SA. One solar

charge gives eight to nine

hours of light, once charged,

and it can be left connected

while in use.

The solar panel takes

six to eight hours to charge

fully. The white lamp has two

brightness settings, while additional features include the solar panel,

which can charge smaller cell phones depending on battery require-

ments, it has a 1000-cycle life, and the battery is 1800 mAh Lithium

ion unit with 1000 to 1200 cycles.

On the minimum brightness setting, users get eight to nine hours

of light; on the super bright setting it’s five to six hours. The pull switch

globe can be hung anywhere.

“The unit very reasonably priced at R300,” says Terry Brand MD

of AutObarn SA. “We have tested the units at the company, in the

workshops, and in our homes without a single failure. Ideally home

owners should invest in a few mobile units that will give them light in

all important rooms. To date, we have had many orders from all over

South Africa. Most people do not understand just how good these

solar units are and how well they work; once they do, they are back for

more,” says Brand.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 477 3612

RECHARGEABLE

SOLAR

POWERED LIGHT